Australian Alps national parks
Aboriginal people and the Australian Alps
The Mountains are very old and an ongoing life force that strengthens the ancestral link of
our people. We have a living, spiritual connection with the mountains. We retain family
stories and memories of the mountains, which makes them spiritually and culturally
significant to us. Our traditional knowledge and cultural practices still exist and need to be
maintained…
Our people travelled from many directions over long distances to gather peacefully on the
mountains for trade, ceremony, marriages, social events and to settle differences.
The cycle of life and many seasons influence the movement of our people through the
mountains to the sea and the desert. The stars, clouds, sun and the moon guided people to
and from places of importance. These travel routes continue to be used and spoken about
today…
Let us not forget the past while we look forward to the future. Past and present practices
make us strong and we are committed to making this a better country for all.
Extracts from: Kosciuszko National Park 2004, ‘Draft Plan of Management’, A Statement from the Kosciuszko
Aboriginal Working Group, p. iv. Illustration: Jim Williams
This information sheet is ongoing and evolving with continuing liaison and
consultation with Indigenous communities associated with the Australian Alps. It
is by no means the complete and final story. Check the Alps website
www.australianalps.environment.gov.au for updates.
Aboriginal people have cultural stories passed on through generations
and spiritual associations with the of Aboriginal people.
Australian Alps that go back many
thousands of years. Archaeological evidence is provided
through the discovery of Aboriginal
Evidence of the presence of sites. These sites are important to
Aboriginal people in the Australian Aboriginal people for social, spiritual,
Alps is recognised through the historical, and commemorative
many archaeological and historic reasons. Aboriginal sites in the
sites that remain and through the Australian Alps include:
Australian Alps Education Kit – Aboriginal people Page 1 of 8
occupation sites that are the higher mountains in the
represented in the Australian Alps Australian Alps.
by rock shelters and open camps;
stone artefact scatters that are the
result of tool making, use and
discard activities in the past. The
distribution pattern of different
stone colour and types can explain
not only the raw material sources
but might also inform us about the
associated Aboriginal language
groups who brought the stone
artefacts with them, the technology
of tool manufacture and
sometimes, through residue and
use-wear analysis, about how stone
tools were used;
intangible sites such as significant
landscape features or whole
Illustration: Jim Williams
landscapes. These places might
have spiritual, natural resource Other sites, such as ceremonial
usage, historical, social, grounds, burial locations and art sites,
educational or other significance; are known but the first-hand
knowledge of these places has been
culturally marked trees that lost. Other Aboriginal sites include
demonstrate intricate patterns and
built fences and stockyards from many
designs that have been carved into
recent historical times.
trees to mark burial places of very
significant members of an The tablelands and highlands of south-
Aboriginal group. Other scarred eastern Australia show evidence of
trees were made through the Aboriginal occupation from as far back
removal of bark from numerous as 21,000 years ago (Flood 1996, p. 3).
different purposes, such as, to One of the oldest Aboriginal sites
provide bark for the roofing of found is Birrigai Rock Shelter. Located
huts, to make canoes or carrying within Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, this
utensils, coolemons, for shields, to rock shelter contains evidence of
cut toe-holds for climbing trees, to ancient campfires and stone tools from
cut holes into trees for the as far back as 21,000 years. At this
extraction of animals or honey, or time, temperatures in the Australian
sometimes bark was removed in Capital Territory would have been
order to practice bark removal 8 to 10°Celcius cooler than
techniques; and temperatures experienced today.
Carbons dating of the deposits tell us
stone arrangements were used for that the Birrigai Rock Shelter remained
ceremonial and initiation purposes. in use by Aboriginal people until the
There are many lines of stone middle of the 19th century.
arrangements found on the top of
Australian Alps Education Kit – Aboriginal people Page 2 of 8
found in the Snowy Mountains
(Kamminga 1992, p. 103-104).
Many more Aboriginal sites are
present at lower altitudes.
Oral tradition and physical evidence
Ill indicate that prior to European settlement
ustration: Jim Williams the Aboriginal people of the Australian Alps
maintained a thriving society that
Stone artefacts found in Cloggs Cave, incorporated sophisticated exchange
Gippsland, Victoria, also demonstrate patterns and rich social and ceremonial
the presence of Aboriginal people lives. Kosciuszko National Park, 2004,
17,000 years ago (Flood 1992). p. 73
Aboriginal sites have also been found
within the valleys of the Snowy More evidence…
Mountains and along the upper Snowy Although some evidence of Aboriginal occupation
River. Camp sites and workshops for of the Alps was lost in the 2003 fires that affected
much of the Australian Alps, further evidence of
making stone tools, known as Aboriginal people’s association with the Australian
‘knapping floors, are recognised by the Alps has been uncovered. Since the fires, many
presence of stone artefacts, raw previously unknown Aboriginal sites have been
discovered and recorded throughout the Alps. In the
material chunks or cores and other tool ACT the fires have revealed what could be the
debris. Small stone artefact scatters are region's most significant Aboriginal heritage area.
present in alpine and sub-alpine An area known as Jedbinbilla, near the Tidbinbilla
Nature Reserve, west of Canberra, was a pine
environments, with the highest found plantation until the fires stripped away the
near the saddle of Perisher Gap, NSW. impenetrable vegetation to expose thousands of
Some artefacts are examples of blade- individual stone artefacts and rock shelters.
making that was undertaken in eastern
Australia about 4,500 to 5,000 year
ago. Prehistoric burial sites are also
Australian Alps Education Kit – Aboriginal people Page 3 of 8
Shared histories
The lifestyle of the Aboriginal people died in 1914 at the age of 62. Today
was catastrophically disrupted when there are many people living either in
non-Aboriginal people arrived in the south-eastern Australia or in other
Alps in the 1820s. The nomadic places who have traditional
lifestyle of Aboriginal people connections to the Australian Alps.
conflicted with the European notion of
land ownership. From this time on, Many place names in the Alps have
there were reports of diminishing been derived from local Aboriginal
access to water, fish and native languages and these names are
animals, which were so important to culturally significant to Aboriginal
the Aboriginal diet and lifestyle (HO people to this day. These names
and DUAP 1996). In addition diseases, include Canberra, Namadgi,
to which Aboriginal people had little or Tidbinbilla, Piallago, Michelago,
no immunity, such as influenza, small Bredbo, Tumut, Cabramurra, Tinderry,
pox, tuberculosis, measles and sexually Jagungal, Dicky Cooper Bogong,
transmitted diseases, devastated many Cooma, Jindabyne, Talbingo,
populations of people. Some people Yarrangobilly, Suggan Buggan,
remained on the land and continued Buchan, Mitta Mitta, Tambo, Youngal,
hunting, others responded to the Mount Bogong, Benambra and
change by working as guides, trackers Numeralla.
or pastoral workers for the new settlers
but most moved away or were removed Aboriginal people made a significant
from their traditional lands. Many contribution to the early exploration,
people lived on government reserves. pastoral, timber-getting, tanning, road
and building construction industries of
These changes caused the separation of the Australian Alps. More recently,
family members, the forced abandonment Aboriginal people have been employed
of traditional practices and a great loss of in many industries in the Alps
cultural knowledge. Despite this, Aboriginal including national park management,
people of the region have retained forestry operations, local council
important strands of their culture, including operations, construction and operation
a sense of identity and belonging. of hydro-electricity infrastructure, ski
Kosciuszko National Park, 2004 resort operation and retail industries.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported
in 1856 that the Aboriginal people in
the south of the Australian Alps were
extinct, but more recent Census reports
indicated otherwise. There were 166
Aboriginal people, likely to have been
Ngarigo people, around Cooma and
319 near Bombala, who were most
probably Bidawal people. The well-
known Bony Jack and his son
Biggenhook were surviving members
of the Ngarigo people. Biggenhook
Australian Alps Education Kit – Aboriginal people Page 4 of 8
Working together
Aboriginal people have used their that they can be involved in decision
traditional laws, knowledge and skills making concerning their heritage –
to manage the Australian Alps for ‘their Country’.
thousands of years. Alpine ecosystems
have been influenced by this The ACT has established an interim
management. Namadgi Board of Management. This
board consists of Aboriginal people,
Aboriginal sites and objects in the Alps park staff and other non-Aboriginal
are protected by legislation by state community representatives. NSW has
and federal legislation. It is illegal to established a Kosciuszko National Park
disturb, damage or destroy an object or Aboriginal Working Group. This group
Aboriginal place without consent from consist of family representatives from
the relevant authority. the major traditional owner group who
have connections to Kosciuszko
However, Aboriginal culture is more National Park.
than just physical sites.
In 2005 the Australian Alps National
Entire landscapes also hold significant Parks sponsored a gathering of
cultural values. From an Aboriginal Aboriginal traditional owners, that is,
perspective land and people are Aboriginal people with traditional
inseparable. The mountains provided connections to the Alps, at Dinner
Aboriginal people with food, shelter, Plain. Dinner Plain was one of the
clothing, tools, utensils and medicine. places where Aboriginal people
Beyond this the messages underlying the gathered for talks in the days before
stories of ancestral beings, who shaped the European settlement.
plant and animal communities and the
landscapes themselves, governed all At this meeting the traditional owners
aspects of traditional Aboriginal society. present, proposed that the Australian
These story lines link people and features Alps First Peoples develop an
of the mountains with those of other distant agreement amongst themselves so that
places to this day. Kosciuszko National they can establish ways for this group
Park, 2004, p. 75 to work more effectively together as
one group. Some of their other
National park agencies in the recommendations were that:
Australian Alps are working with
Aboriginal people with traditional land management agencies
connections with the Alps to manage recognise that traditional owners
not only the physical sites but also are the only legitimate Indigenous
intangible values. Aboriginal culture is speakers for Country;
a living culture and to maintain this
culture Aboriginal people need access an area of crown land is identified
to land and natural resources so that in the Alps as an area for
they can practice and pass on their traditional owners to meet and
traditional knowledge and skills. They continue traditions, practices and
also have strong feelings of attachment customs;
to their traditional land and are keen to
work closely with land managers so
Australian Alps Education Kit – Aboriginal people Page 5 of 8
an Australian Alps First Peoples
Keeping Place be established;
traditional owners have access to
cultural resources, for example,
fishing, hunting, collecting and
gathering rights without a license;
land management agencies provide
adequate financial resources to
ensure equity of involvement of
traditional owners in all aspects
and levels of land and waterways
management; and
land management agencies
implement actions that will
increase the employment
opportunities for traditional
owners.
It was agreed by traditional owners and
national park staff present that it was
important to maintain the momentum
of goodwill and understanding and to
pursue the recommendations tabled.
Australian Alps Education Kit – Aboriginal people Page 6 of 8
References
Argue, D. (1995) Aboriginal Occupation of the Southern Highlands: Was it really
Seasonal?’ in Australian Archaeology, Vol. 41, pp. 30-36.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) AM programme, ‘Aboriginal Elders
Gather Together for Historic Meeting’, Reporter: Ben Knight, ABC website:
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2005/s1336800.htm], sourced: May 2004.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Scribbly Gum program, Thomas, A.
‘Bogongs Migrating South’, ABC website:
http://www.abc.net.au/science/scribblygum/november2002/default.htm,
sourced: April 2005.
Clark, I. D. (1996) ‘Aboriginal Language Areas of Victoria’, a report to the Victorian
Aboriginal Corporation for Languages, 14 July, Melbourne.
Flood, J. (1996) Moth Hunters of the Australian Capital Territory: Aboriginal
Traditional Life in the Canberra Region, J. M. Flood, Downer.
Flood, J (1992) ‘Aboriginal Cultural Heritage of the Australian Alps: an Overview’,
in Cultural Heritage of the Australian Alps, proceedings of the 1991
Symposium, ed. B. Scougall, Australian Alps Liaison Committee, Canberra.
Flood, J., David, B., Magee, J. & English, B. (1987) ‘Birrigai: a Pleistocene site in the
South-eastern Highlands’, in Archaeology in Oceania, Vol. 22, pp. 9-26.
Heritage Office (HO) and Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (DUAP) (1996)
Regional Histories: Regional Histories of New South Wales, Sydney.
Howitt, A. W. (1996) The Native Tribes of South-east Australia, first published in
1904, Macmillan and Co, London, reprinted, Australian Institute of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Canberra.
Kabaila, P. (2005) High Country Footprints: Aboriginal Pathways and Movement in
the High Country of Southeastern Australia – Recognising the Ancient Paths
Beside Modern Highways, Pirion Publishing for Black Mountain Projects Pty
Ltd, Jamison Centre.
Kamminga, J. (1992) ‘Aboriginal Settlement and Prehistory of the Snowy
Mountains’, in Cultural Heritage of the Australian Alps, proceedings of the
1991 Symposium, ed. B. Scougall, Australian Alps Liaison Committee,
Canberra.
Kosciuszko National Park (2004) ‘Draft Plan of Management’, New South Wales
National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Environment and
Conservation, Hurstville.
Australian Alps Education Kit – Aboriginal people Page 7 of 8
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service website:
http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Aboriginal+people+a
nd+cultural+life, sourced: May 2005.
South East Area Consultative Committee, ‘The Aboriginal Peoples – The Yuin
Tribes’, South East Area Consultative Committee website:
http://www.mumbulla.org/html/yuin_peoples.html, sourced: May 2005.
http://www.australianalps.deh.gov.au/
Australian Alps Education Kit – Aboriginal people Page 8 of 8